OutDoor Review Gregory Maya 22
Gregory are rightly proud of their backpack suspension, and gave customers a chance to try it out with a fully-laden pack which they could attempt to guess the weight of, and win a pack of their own.
On the stand, Gregory were exhibiting two new larger packs in the Active Trail series, the Miwok 22 and women’s-specific Maya 22 for 2011. They’re tailored toward hiking and all-day mountain biking, and feature side-zip hydration access, and a streamlined version of the BioSync suspension system. This is lower profile in areas where the shoulder straps and waist belts attach to the pack.
Baltoro 65
2011 will also see two additions to the Baltoro backpack, with 65- and 75-litre versions, both employing Gregory’s Response Auto Fit Suspension, and a host of improvements and refinements.
HI-TEC
HI-TEC continues to grow into the outdoor sector, and their near-80 page catalogue is absolutely fantastic. They are being vastly more pro-active than any other brand with digital promotion – evidenced by the buzz that surrounded their ‘walk on water’ viral recently such a hit on YouTube – and their POS support, actual product and overall attitude to the trade is coming on in leaps and bounds. Ion Mask impressed the hell out of us a couple of years ago, but this company has not rested on its laurels for a second. Their new ethos is mapped out in literature given to visitors headed up ‘Inspired by Life’, which outlines their core brand values; it’s all part of their new approach and, frankly, it works. We’ll go into the lines for 2011 in more detail in a future issue of SGB, as there’s not enough room here!
GoLite
GoLite continues to impress. With every brand out there making some kind of lightweight addition to their ranges, it’s great to see a brand making its environmental pedigree and its lightweight credentials top of the list of priorities. For GoLite, this is quite simply what they do. The Trail Running collection has grown with the Vista Ridge range of tops. Quick drying, fast wicking, and with a superb 50+ UPF rating, the Vista Ridge tops come with flatlocks seams
Malpais
and are made with 100 per cent recycled polyester. The only reflectivity comes from reflective logos and they’re not huge, but that’s the only drawback. We also walked away with one of their wonderful hydration packs – in this case a water bottle with fabric carrying handle and zip pocket. Light, practical, and the bottle is BPA-free and biodegradable. For outerwear,
GoLite is launching the Malpais in 2011, a hard shell for year-round use which the company says is the lightest ever three- layer jacket at just 190g.
Post Canyon
Also of note is the new soft shell, Post Canyon, made with recycled polyester and spandex for a good range of movement and comfort. GoLite’s packs have always impressed, with new addition the Terrono a fabulous 90 litre pack weighing in at just 2015g.
Vista Ridge
Columbia
Last but most certainly not least, we have Columbia. You might remember SGB raving about Omni Heat after seeing it in action at ispo; Columbia have not been idle since then. The Ravenous trail shoe is a lovely-looking beast, and comes in a stability model for serious pronators. It also includes the company’s Techlite and Omni-Grip technologies in its construction. The Peak Power Shell is a highly practical Omni-Dry shell designed for demanding outdoor activity, while the Cool Rules short sleeve top is a multi-purpose piece that’s all about
flexibility, and is made with Omni-Freeze technology. The Mobex Float backpack sadly doesn’t actually float, sadly, but its floating suspension system apparently gives great freedom of movement. The back panel is ventilated, access comes via a
clamshell design, and there are reflective accents and a rescue whistle. And at just 1020g, it might feel a bit like it’s floating…
The Bug Shield Long Sleeve Shirt boasts Insect Blocker technology combined with Omni-Shade for UPF 40 sun protection and Omi-Wick to keep the user cool. We could talk about Columbia all day, but sadly that’s all for now… Maybe next time!
Miwok 22
AUGUST 2010 SGB OUTDOOR
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